Jane Lynch: Sue Sylvester is still on "Glee"
When Sue Sylvester was fired from William McKinley High School during last week's episode of "Glee," the move had some viewers wondering: 'Does this mean Emmy award-winning actress Jane Lynch is off the show?'
"Glee" fans don't have to worry because Sue's dry wit, conniving ways and surprising sweet spots will be around for the rest of the season. Although we may not see Sue heading up the Cheerios, she's not abandoning Lima, Ohio.
"I'm in the episodes. I'm not back at McKinley," Lynch told CBSNews.com about her character. "I'm working as an aerobics instructor. I keep my hand in McKinley. I'm very interested in what's going on with the kids. I lost my position. I brought a loaded gun to school. Of course, I didn't really. But I took the fall for Becky."
In the controversial "Shooting Star" episode, special needs student Becky Jackson (Lauren Potter) brought a gun to school and it accidentally went off in Sue's office. Nobody was hurt, but Sue was fired from her job, as she took the blame to protect her student. The episode made many headlines coming four months after the Newport, Conn. school shooting.
For her part, Lynch said, "I think this storyline is really incredible for both Sue and for Becky. So I trust that they'll come up with something good all the time. I have no complaints," said Lynch, adding, "They'll put me in situations where I'm going to have to really dig deep to come up with the way I'm going to play something. But mostly it's the easiest job in the world, really."
When asked if she has anything in common with her character on the hit Fox series, Lynch said, "There would have to be or I wouldn't be able to play it. I think one of the things that I really identify with is the need to push people away -- sometimes people can't see the vulnerabilities that are so strong inside Sue. And I think I have that too -- that you cover it with that kind of warrior energy and the aggression...the threat of violence, but really it's protecting a very tender heart."
Lynch, who's been a main cast member on "Glee" since it debuted in 2009, said the series has "changed my life a lot. A lot of kids watch the show and get a lot of comfort from this show and learn a lot of lessons...It inspires debate between parents. There are many more children in my orbit than there was before. So that's made me stop and think. You can't tell them to buzz off when you're having a meal. You have to be nice. But no, I do take it very seriously and I'm really honored to be a role model for kids."
But will "Glee" live to see another season? Fox has yet to officially announce if it's been picked up for another season, but until then, Lynch will be very busy. She has been cast to portray the nasty orphanage overseer Miss Hannigan in Broadway's "Annie" for eight weeks beginning in May.
Lynch, 52, said she's always been a fan of "Annie." "I remember when the musical came out, I was in love with the soundtrack," she said, adding, "The songs Miss Hannigan sings are just classic -- 'Easy Street' and 'Little Girls' are just terrific numbers. I couldn't ask for anything more in terms of my Broadway debut."
Although she's very familiar with the music, Lynch admits she's still a bit anxious about her Broadway debut.
"I'm appropriately nervous but also extremely excited. There are a lot of elements to preparing for this. There's music and dancing and lines and blocking and hair, wigs, makeup, costumes," said Lynch, who will replace Katie Finneran when she leaves next month to film her role in Michael J. Fox's new TV show. "It's a lot of elements and I'm working away -- on my own -- because the show is up and running [in New York] and I'm in Los Angeles and I'm kind of in my own private Idaho working on this. So the fear of the unknown is quite great for me right now, but I'm still looking very much forward to it."
Lynch has a couple of big shoes to fill. Carol Burnett, one of Lynch's good friends, famously played Miss Hannigan in the 1982 film version of "Annie." "She was the first person to text me when it was announced. She's full of support and love. She's just a really great person and I'm honored that she's a friend," Lynch said.
If "Glee" and "Annie" weren't enough to keep Lynch busy, she's also hosting the upcoming NBC series, "Hollywood Game Night" from actor Sean Hayes.
"It's kind of a bird's-eye-view of game night -- but at a celebrity's house," said Lynch. "Two civilians will be playing with us but the rest will be celebrities -- people like Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, Jason Bateman and Martin Short. We have some great people coming on -- and I'm hosting them!"
Lynch, who emceed the Emmy Awards in 2011, recently stepped into the hosting shoes once again as part of her partnership with belVita breakfast biscuits. She hosts a series of fun vignettes and says she was first attracted to the partnership because she actually now eats breakfast.
"What I have historically done is I skip breakfast and I'm famished at lunch," said Lynch, who crashed a spin class on Monday and took to the streets of Lost Angeles to motivate people to stay energized. "Breakfast is the hardest meal to figure out what to eat -- for me personally and these biscuits are basically a no-brainer."
With everything Lynch has going on, it's hard to believe there was ever a time when she wasn't busy. She has called herself a "late bloomer," having hit her stride later in life.
"It's led me to where I am today and I couldn't be happier," she said. "I wrote a book called 'Happy Accidents,' and that's one of things I talk about -- you know embrace what is right in front of you...All those little shows I did, all the things I did for free. All the goofy relationships and the ridiculous behavior -- all that stuff -- they were all lessons in kind of my 'school' in terms of becoming a human being. To relish your particular path is so important."
